Post-hole auger.



0. L. MJHOOVER & s. 1. ARDERY.

POST HOLE AUGER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 22, 1915 1,191,698. Patented July 18, 1916.

OR\I\LLE L-M- HOOVER SHRHH J HROERY ORVILLE L. M. HOOVER, or ABI ENE, TEXAS, nn sAnAtr annnnv, or woonwAnn,

, OKLAHOMA, v

' POST-HOLE AUGER.

To all wiwm it may concern Be it .known that r we, ORVILLE L. M.

HOOVER and SARAH J ARDERY, of Abilene,

and Woodward, in the counties of Taylor and Woodward and States of Texas and Oklahoma, respectively, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Post- Hole Augers; and we do herebydeclare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to a post-hole auger, for digging holes in which to implant telephone poles, fence posts and the like.

One object of our invention resides in the provision of a plurality of blades assembled around-a common axis and having inwardly directed cutting ends torsionally twisted to provide for a spiral cutting point.

Another object of our invention resides in the provision of cutting blades adjustably mounted upon a base, and means for positively locking such blades against displacement during the operation of the tool.

Still anotherobject of our. invention resides in the provision of means lying within the cage formed by the blade shanks, for discharging the dirt which collects therein during the operation of the tool, such means being arranged to discharge the dirt at the blade ends as well as at the sides of the cage formed by the blade shanks.-

A still further object consists in the arrangement of a ratchet handle, and means on the stem of the tool for withdrawing the tool from a hole which it has previously drilled. r

Referring to the drawings annexed hereto, and in which we have illustrated the preferred embodiment of our invention: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the tool constructed according to our invention. Fig. 2 is a section view on the line 22 of Fig. 1, showing the ratchet handle construction. Fig. 3 is a transverse section view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a plan View of the blade supporting member. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the end of the dirt discharging member.

Referring particularly to the figures of the drawings, the tool comprises a stem 1 enlarged at its upper end 2 and provided with ratchet teeth 3. Over the enlarged end 2 is loosely fitted a cap piece A drilled to specification of Letters l atent receive a paw1'5 engaging the ratchet teeth.

3, the said pawl being held in place by a by ascrew 7 tapped into the cap 4. The cap 1 is drilled on the top as at 8 and is Journaled on the screw 9 tapped into the top of the member 2. The cap a is provlded with handles 10. mounted therein and extending oppositely with respect-to each other. V d

On the stem 1 between its lower end and the enlarged end 2 is asecond handle member 11which is movable longitudinally of the stem 1, but may be fastened inzplace at any point thereon by means of a'set screw 12, which, when turned up to the set position, engages the stem 1. By means of this handle 11 the auger may be withdrawn from a hole without placing any strain whatsoever upon the ratchet member hereinbefore described.

At the lower end, the stem 1 is threaded and receives a square nut 13. 1 This nut engages a squared socket in the center of the upper surface of the blade supporting member 14:, below which is carried the jam nut 18 to hold said member in position. The blade supporting member 1% comprises a plurality of arms 15 which are slotted as at 16, the bases of the slots being transversely grooved, as shown, for a purpose to be hereinafter set forth; The base of each slot is also drilled as at 17 for receiving bolts which hold the blades in place. The blade supporting member is held in position on the end of the stem 1 by means of a second nut 18 which screws tightly against the bottom of theblade supporting member, and thus by reason of the square nut 13, which engages the blade supporting member, and the square nut 18 which holds the blade supporting member on the end of the stem, the blade supporting member is securely held fromturning on the stem while the tool is in operation. The blades 19 each comprise a shank portion 20, a retaining portion 21, and an inwardly directed torsionally twisted v Patented July 18,1916. Application filed May 22, 1915. Serial No. 29,824. l

cutting end 22 sharpened on the edge 23.

blades are in position, as shown in Fig. 1,

5 0 they are assembled around a common axis,

namely, the axis of the stem 1. Thus, by this arrangement of the blades and the cutting ends 22, a spiral cutting form is produced which will effectively drill into the hardest ground.

The under-side of each of the retaining portions 21 of the blades, is provided with ribs which engage in the grooves in the bases of the slots 16. This prevents the blades from moving, when the tool is in use, from the adjusted position.

It has been demonstrated by those experienced in drilling such holes as this tool is designed for drilling, that dirt clogs between the cutting ends of the blades and up into the cage formed by the shanks of the blades. Some effective means must therefore be provided for removing this dirt, as when the dirt thus collects the tool operates very ine'l'ficiently. In order to overcome this difficulty, we have provided means lying within the cage formed by the blades for discharging the dirt from within such cage and from between the cutting ends of the blades. This means comprises an arrow-shaped head 25 which is formed on the end of a stem 26 which projects through a hole 27 in the blade holding member 14. The stem at its upper end is secured to a lever 37, the inner end of which lever is pivoted to the stem 1 of the tool at 28. This lever is provided with a spring clip 29 which holds the dirt removing member 25 in the position shown in dotted lines, when the said member is not in use. The distance between the pivot point 80 of the stem 26, and the point 28, when the handle 37 is pivoted to the stem 1, is such that when the handle 37 is operated to remove the dirt from within the cage formed by the assembled blades, the head 25 of the dirt removing member is projected downwardly at such an angle that when in its extreme downward position it lies at the apex of the cutting ends. It will thus be seen that this arrangement provides dirt removing means which is so arranged that during its operation it passes downwardly to remove the dirt from within the cage and to the lowest point of such cage to remove the dirt from between the cutting ends of Copies of this patent may be obtained for the blades. The advantages of such a construction will be apparent.

It is to be understood, that while we have herein shown and described one specific embodiment of our invention, we do not wish to be limited thereto except in so far as the claims import.

Ve claim:

1. The combination with a post-hole auger including a blade supporting member and a cage of blades supported thereon, of movable means located within said cage and for actuation to remove dirt therefrom, and means for normally maintaining said means in an inoperative position, substantially as described.

2. The combination in a post-hole auger, of a blade supporting member, a cage of blades mounted thereon, ratchet handle means, and means for withdrawing said auger from a hole, substantially as described.

3. The combination in a post-hole auger, of a blade supporting member, blades adjustably mounted thereon and arranged around a common axis, ratchet handle means, means for discharging the dirt from between said blades, and means for withdrawing said auger from a hole, substantially as described.

4:. In a post-hole auger, including blades, mechanism for cleaning dirt from said blades, and means for securing said mechanism in an inoperative position during the operation of the auger, substantially as described.

5. In a post-hole auger the combination with ratchet means for turning said anger, of means in addition to said ratchet turning means for withdrawing said auger from a hole without placing any strain upon said ratchet turning means, substantially as de scribed.

In testimony whereof, we have signedthis specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ORVILLE L. M. HOOVER. SARAH J ARDERY. Witnesses MERTON D. Hoovnn, VVILLIUEM S. ESTER.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

